Billed as America’s Latest Novelty Revue, GLAD RAGS entertained Melbourne at the Tivoli in December 1942 . The eight panel fold out theatre programme lists the New Yorkers who provided acrobatic burlesque . Star of the show was George Wallace , whose Ocker-like humour was popular ; Clem Dawe and Eric Edgley, well known in Australian showbiz, also performed ; Elsa Stenning, known as the Australian nightingale, who had performed at the Royal Opera House, London, not only wowed the audience with her voice but gave a lunch hour recital in Collins Street during an Austerity Loan Rally .Comedy sequences were provided by Fred Parsons who wrote scripts for the radio personality Roy Rene – Mo McCackie of McCackie Mansions. Also on the card were the Tivoli glamour girls and famous ballet dancers. For the tenth year in a row, the Christmas pantomime MOTHER GOOSE , with 150 artists, was staged . Advertisements included " the world’s greatest counter lunch" at the City Club Hotel and there was no shortage of stockings at that stage of the war as Mignon hosiery , in all the newest and most glamorous shades- a thrill to touch , a joy to wear- were available from a penny less then six shillings (60c). (From Little Darwin Ephemera Collection.)
